Differences in this game vs Borderlands 2 version

[Renfrew]

Intro

I am here to offer a neutral overview of differences that I encountered, and then a final analysis. I don't own the game on Steam and after trying it out on Epic and sitting through 5 hours of everything that was on offer, I won't be. I finished Normal Mode and I have no desire to try TVHM or see if there is a UVHM, and the comparison will make it clear why I won’t be.

The comparison

Necessary changes:

• Bank at Moxxi's (storage)
  
• Crazy Earl in Flamerock Refuge (blackmarket upgrades)

Both of these are necessary with all non-Dragon Keep areas (particularly Sanctuary) made unavailable.

Minor changes:

• Dragon Keep areas are the only locations available (makes sense)
  
• Marcus in armour in front of where Eleanor (Ellie) stands - he has a gun shop like he would in Sanctuary, only purpose is for "The Bane" mission (more on that later)
  
• Gold Chest and Gold Keys have been replaced by Skeleton Chest and Skeleton Keys. The Skeleton Chest can be found to the left of where Eleanor (Ellie) stands. Besides the appearance and name changes, it of course functions identically.
  
• Characters now have quotes specific to dice chests
  
• King Ragnar doesn't have the 4 dwarf miners near him
  
• Black Market upgrades stop at orange rarity (20 Eridium cost). See the chart here for details on where that leaves thing in terms of storage and ammo capacity: https://borderlands.fandom.com/wiki/Black_Market

Major changes:

• 2 skill points per level up - Given there is not much content this makes a lot of sense, but it also makes the game ridiculously easy if you are experienced and know what you are doing
  
• 4-7x Seraph Crystals have an extremely low chance of dropping from standard mobs, and are guaranteed to drop from bosses and very strong enemies
  
• New shield "kite shield" releases a gust of wind to push back melee attackers - Explosive only, spike shield upgrade especially because it can push back multiple enemies at the same time. This is also the only new item added.
  
• "Spell" grenades can now spawn in chests (the ones that look like mimics)
  
• Bosses and stronger enemies have higher chances of dropping Legendaries
  
• Loot drop rates seem to have been slightly buffed, so you will see higher rarities more often.
  
• The Bane side mission now appears in the Mines of Avarice
  
• Face McShooty appears in The Lair of Infinite Agony
  
• Sorcerors have a higher chance of dropping the Legendary version of their "spell" grenade

Bad design:

• Fast Travel map shows the Borderlands 2 map instead of a zoomed in map just for Dragon Keep and surrounding areas – It’s a minor detail, but such a careless oversight
  
• Spike shields are still in the game... Would have worked better if they kept the Kite shield only to stop clutter in the loot pool as well as give it more elements
  
• Kite shield is the only new item available
  
• The mere idea of unlocking a bunch of skins and heads (all over again) that are locked to one niche title
  
• Cutscenes are still unskippable

Bugs:

• Stumpy's (little trees) are unaffected by Kite Shields. I can understand why some enemies will only take damage and no knocback, but Stumpys shouldn't be completely immune to both aspects. Even Badass skeletons receive the damage and knockback...
  
• White rarity Tediore shields have the white rarity Maliwan skin for some reason

Overall:
This game is weird, it is clearly aimed at attracting a new audience, but it’s too much for someone new to the franchise to take in, it would be far simpler for them to just play Borderlands 2 in its entirety as well as its DLCs.
For existing players this game fails to justify its existence. If you want better loot, there are tons of mods that already solve that issue for you as well as balancing if you cannot manage the original game’s balance. On top of that this rebalance would apply to the whole game, instead of just one DLC. The Kite Shield is the only new item added to the game, even buying this game just to experience an item that will likely be modded in is not worth it... If the heads become transferable to Borderlands 2 then experienced players might have more incentive, but then why not just make the changes part of the original DLC?

[Renfrew]

All it took is a core game mechanic (shields) to make you not want to play the game at a very early part of the game, so I repeat how is the exact same gameplay going to change anything just because it has a skin? You are still going to meet bosses that force you to fully utilise what tools you have to the maximum, what has changed? Do you know how hard the ghost kings are? The most complained about boss fight of the Tina DLC and it is very early in the DLC. If you think a boss with a shield gimmick is tough, just wait until you see what this DLC has in store for you; a DLC is by definition additional content, hence it is balanced for players who are experienced with what the base game has to offer.

You can literally download level 30 saves or create a new character that starts off at level 30. If you were so interested in the Tiny Tina DLC you could have tried it at anytime, what makes this so different? Most important of all why are you here discussing playing it instead of actually playing it if you are that interested? It's Free on Epic, there's literally no reason you need to sit here and try to defend this. I can only assume that even you recognise it makes no sense for you to download a launcher and download a game when you could play your already owned game.

Any game with a multiplayer option is more fun with others, but you have an even worse chance of finding people to play this title, because no one's playing it now that they are aware of what it is. You would still be better off going back to BL2 forums asking for people to play with and then playing the DLC with them.

[DrLoboto]

Publicado originalmente por ꧁Renfrew꧂:

I already redeemed it on Epic, just wondering whether I should actually play it some day or not. But alright, alright, point taken. :D

Thanks for taking the time to keep me from wasting mine! ;)

[Nakos]

Hmm... thanks for the detailed analysis Renfrew. I appreciate the effort.

Speaking personally, I think I'll just stick to BL2.

This looks to me like a marketing gimmick meant to heighten interest in the new game while at the same time, not requiring those new to the franchise (say, with BL3) to have to go back and play the older BL2 in its entirety. It also means they don't have to keep unpacking and messing with the SHiFT and authentication codes for BL2, so that's probably seen as a win by the Gearbox coders.

Regardless, I won't be bothering with it, but thanks.